Thanks for the tip. There is no grout yet, but it is very close to the tile color

It’s so hard to see colors correctly on screens - on my screen, the tile reads warm and muddy, while the countertop reads more cool grey, could that be the source of the disconnect?

ETA i wonder about a clearer/cooler color, like a blue or green instead

It feels just too dark, ( and yes, muddy was a nice description, opposite of fresh feeling ) and too harsh. Hate to say no amount of any light and toned in grout will change that: )

Can we see the whole and include the flooring with a peek to adjacent flooring?

The challenge with just doing white is every white is different. Will it be off from the white of the cabinets or counters? You can certainly do white, just saying it isn't necessarily simple finding one that works.

I see some wood floating shelves. How much of that will will you tile? Can you show some pics of all the areas you will tile and of the flooring in the room?

It might not be the "perfect" choice, but it isn't bad either. Is that tile on the kitchen floor? If it is, it does seem to pick up the colors of the tile.

Yes that is tile on the floor. A green may work. The quartz is a cooler white, but the cabinets and walls are warm white. The peak of other floor is hardwood that is in the rest of the house—those are a rich chestnut medium brown shade

the backsplash will stop below the floating shelves

I will try to get better photos later today when at the house. These are from our contractor yesterday.

Perhaps some zellige tiles with cream and white might be a nicer blend

Muddy is correct, unfortunately. Whites don’t always play well together.

Since the grout will be close to the same color as the tile I think it will look better grouted. Right now the space between the tiles doesn't look good. It emphasizes the vertical pattern which I don't care for. If you decide to remove it and try something else, think about whether you like that size tile laid that way. It doesn't matter really what others like, what do you like?

I don't mind the tile but don't like the lines where grout will be - try to match the grout to the the tile and see if you like that better.

Make the grout color about mid shade or a little closer to the tile color to minimize the grout lines.

The problem you are having with the tile is without the room finished you are overly focused on tile. Once the kitchen is in and you've added countertop item, room accessories, and furniture, you will have other thing to draw you eyes to. I think those tiles fit nicely in the space.

The problem you are having with the tile is without the room finished you are overly focused on tile. Once the kitchen is in and you've added countertop item, room accessories, and furniture, you will have other thing to draw you eyes to. I think those tiles fit nicely in the space.

It’s gonna look nice when grouted.

It's certainly not my taste; color or style (tile shape). I would go with something interesting. At the very least, could have gone subway in same boring color. As it is, it looks muddy and drab, and the vertical pattern is bizarre.

So easy to change backsplash. An interior designer would fix this in 10 minutes.

I think a green tile would look better. Good luck!

I think the black fixtures emphasize the black currently residing where the white grout will be. I think it will all look good once you have the grout done in white. Then the black faucet and pulls will stand out on their own.

With white flooring, white counters, white cabinets I would not do a muted backsplash. I also wouldn't want that many vertical stripes with the shaker cabinets and black vertical pulls.

I would do something with a broken pattern, larger format and something with a cleaner color. Maybe even do something to add some color into the design.